Paul's Practical Theology - Sermon Recap

Here's a brief summary of yesterday's sermon from 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13. There's a link to the entire message (40 minutes) at the bottom of the post.

Spiritual growth is hard. It doesn’t just happen. It takes effort.

Spiritual maturity takes time. The usual experience is slow growth over a long period of time. This is often frustrating to us, but when we come to realize that it’s the usual pattern for almost all believers, we can relax a little. 

While he’s excited that they’re standing firm, Paul also acknowledges the reality of the need for much spiritual growth to happen in the Thessalonians church. He’s not frustrated at their lack of growth. 

In this passage, we see three practical principles in Paul’s life that help us to live faithfully in the midst of whatever situation the Lord has us in.

1. Be Thankful

We want to see BIG things, MAJOR growth, huge dynamic changes. But most of the time, change doesn’t happen that way. So iwhether things are moving at a snail’s pace or rocketing forward, always be thankful for what the Lord is doing,. For the growth you’re seeing in yourself and in others. When you’re thankful, it changes your heart.

Five ways thankfulness changes your heart.

   1. It acknowledges God’s sovereignty.

   You’re saying - you’re in control and you deserve my thanks. When I’m not thanking God

   It’s easy to fall out of the attitude of gratitude

   And forget (James 1) that everything good & perfect gift comes from God.

   2. It acknowledges God’s goodness

   God is good. All the time. 

   All the time. God is good.

   God cannot do anything that’s not good.

   When I’m not thanking God, I can easily forget about His inherent goodness

   3. It promotes my humility 

   Matthew 7 tells us that we’ll be judged by the standard we use to judge others. 

   We need to be thankful for even the little things in life.

   4. It confesses my own inadequacy

   I’m in need of His grace, mercy, tender care, guidance, provision… on and on…

   The more I thank God - the more I remember how much I need Him.

   5. It helps me submit to His will

   When I’m thankful to God, it helps me to be submissive to His will because

   I’m remembering that He is sovereign, He is Good, He’s working for me, 

   so I can follow His will for my life. 

Paul is absolutely overwhelmed:

For what thanksgiving can we return to God

This is a rhetorical question

He’s saying:

I just can’t be thankful enough
There’s no way to be adequately thankful for what God is doing in your lives.

2. Passionate Prayer

Two things about Paul’s prayer:

The How:

“most earnestly”

How passionate is your prayer life?

Are you driven to pray like what we see in Paul? Most earnestly, day and night

Or do you do it because you know you’re supposed to? To check it off your “to do” list? 

What is the attitude of your heart when you pray?

We need to live as if it all depends on us and pray as if it all depends on God.

Paul also prays night and day

Pointing to two things:

• a pattern of life - overflowing from the earnest, fervent, passionate prayers

• a system - He was disciplined, organized, and intentional in his prayer life.  

The WHAT of Paul’s prayer life

Verse 12 – may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 

The foundation of effective ministry is found in both personal relationships (involvement in one another’s lives), and in love. Not generic affection, but agape love

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 expands on this

3: Gospel Transformation

v 13 - the end goal: to be established in holiness

It is not until we come to Christ and abide in Him that any of this makes sense.

The Bible says 

You were dead in your sin… disobedient, led astray, hateful, envious, slaves to various passions and pleasures…

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, (pointing us to the cross - Jesus Christ crucified, dead, buried and risen again) ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, (salvation is not something you can earn, no matter how hard you try) so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. 

Paul’s prayer for them is that they be created in Christ Jesus

That they be established with blameless hearts

That they be holy before God

When we repent of our sins and place our faith in Jesus Christ, we’re radically changed and we will grow.

And that is something to be excited about

We need to be on the lookout for growth in one another’s lives

Thankfulness must be a primary goal

When we constantly complain and are consistently critical, it’s poison in our mind and heart.We have to recognize it as sinful behavior and stop it.

Ephesians 4:29 – Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

God has given me much grace

How can I not turn around and give that grace to others? (not just Christians - but ALL)

Remembering that I was a great sinner

But HE is a greater Savior

Read the lyrics to the song “How Deep the Father’s Love”

How deep the Father's love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make this wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons and daughters to glory

Behold the man upon a cross

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

How can we not be thankful?

John 15:13-14 – Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Soli Deo Gloria!

Rob

Here's the link to the sermon on the church website: http://fellowshipjoplin.org/media/305766-1180564-2192322/pauls-practical-theology

Paul's Hope, Joy, and Crown

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

Three points from this passage

1. A Life-on-Life Passion for People

Paul had spent a few months with the Thessalonians. He’d taught them many things before he had to leave Thessalonica, but had a deep desire to re-connect with them. He had a love for them that desired being present with them face-to-face.

2. The attack/opposition of the Enemy

He's pointing out that the reason he's not been able to come back to them is that Satan hindered him over and over. Satan will always attack the church.

"For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe.  His craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal."

(Martin Luther, A Mighty Fortress)

Even though Satan is against us, God is still sovereign. Satan is still under His authority.

3. The Joy of Heaven

Paul lived with a continual focus on the return of Jesus. He was a true pastor - with a deep desire to see men and women become passionate followers of Jesus Christ.

Your crown is going to be the presence of the people that you were responsible to lead to the knowledge of Christ

Ultimately, this passage tells us that there is a deep, abiding joy that comes from being involved in "Life-on-Life" discipleship with others.

The Foundation: Matthew 28:19-20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

Discipleship is simply Helping each other follow Jesus better

3 Rewards of Discipleship:

1. Increased longing for spiritual fellowship

Why there are fringe people in the church?

they don’t disciple

they don’t let anyone disciple them

When you offer God your gifts, passions, and abilities, it brings joy and your love for others increases.

You’ll want to lean more so you can share more

2. Increased Opposition

When you’re actually moving forward-  

there will be opposition

Satan will try to block your efforts

it will be all out war.

But that’s exciting - it says you’re threatening to the Kingdom of Darkness

3. Increased Glory

Paul is so excited to say: I want to see you make it all the way to the end and I want to be standing there when you meet Christ. I got to help you in your pursuit of Christ in life and it will be so glorious to see you in Christ’s presence face-to-face in glory.

Our glory is increased as we grow in Hope

My hope is encouraged in the midst of discipling someone toward their hope!

Our Joy increases as well

3 John 4 – I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. 

Seeing someone grow in Christ brings great joy.

There is also a Crown - of exultation and boasting. 

I will have the great joy of boasting about what Christ is doing now, and then in heaven, what Christ has done in your life. 

Every person you help grow spiritually here on earth - you’ll get to be there to see them receive their reward. 

That should motivate us today

All of this is because of The Gospel.

In the gospel, we are drawn to love those with whom we have nothing in common.

In the gospel we can persevere through trials and tribulations rather than throw in the towel.

In the gospel we have the hope of heaven. We have strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. 

Whose life will you begin pouring into?

Soli Deo Gloria!

Rob Signs